U.S. cracks down on Americans' intake of sugar, saturated fat

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

The U.S. government issued new dietary guidelines Thursday, saying Americans should curb their intake of sugar and saturated fat to less than 10 percent of daily calories, in the latest blow to a sugar industry that has faced heightened criticism by health advocates.

The push to encourage Americans to eat less added sugar as they consume more fruit and vegetables marks a shift, as the U.S. government had previously offered more vague recommendations on limiting sugar consumption.

If followed, the advice would translate to a sharp reduction in consumption of sugary drinks, snacks and sweets for many Americans. That's especially true for teenagers age 14-18, who on average consume about 17 percent of their calories in added sugar, according to the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans also advises people aged 14 and younger to consume less than 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-healthcare-guidelines-idUSKBN0UL1NE20160107

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US | Thu Jan 7, 2016 10:10am EST
NEW YORK

[GliderGuider]

1. I applaud the emphasis on cutting sugar intake.

However, there is no evidence that saturated fats are harmful. Certainly nothing that warrants messing with a nation's diet. I wish they had demonized refined starch (aka sugar) instead. I guess old habits die hard.

[valerief]

3. +1

[meow2u3]

9. If only fresh fruits were affordable for poor people

If the government wants people to eat more fresh fruits and less junk food, why is fruit so expensive?

[leftyladyfrommo]

13. A small container of mixed fruit was over $6

Yesterday at Henhouse.

In winter you pretty much Ave to do with bananas and apples were 1.39/lb. A half pint of blueberries was over $4. Raspberries were $3 something.

Veggies were better.

[meow2u3]

23. $6 is a lot of money if you don't have enough of it

Fruit is expensive and doesn't keep very well for someone living on minimum wage. Think of the poor.

[wordpix]

19. it's not that expensive if pesticides are used but organic is very expensive

I will still buy organic, though, even at double the cost. I don't want my Stage 4 cancer to recur. So far so good---I've survived 2 yrs. past my operation.

Have you ever grown anything? It is a labor intensive enterprise. You have to pay for the labor, same as buying a car, house or whatever.

[trillion]

46. Very best wishes to you. Yes, eat well and get the nutrients from whole foods, and pesticide free.

[jtuck004]

25. Because we subsidize sugar, and not fruits and vegetables. We would rather see people kill

themselves for others profit than fix the problem.

[meow2u3]

26. That's what needs to be fixed

Instead of subsidizing sugar, subsidize fruits and veggies. That'll bring down the prices of fruits and veggies. It'll also keep the farmers and farmers' markets in business and bankrupt Big Ag. A winner AFAIC.

[jtuck004]

27. Yup. n/t

[wordpix]

16. " no evidence that saturated fats are harmful" - totally untrue

Take a look at the CDC and Heart Assoc. websites, not to mention probably hundreds/thousands of studies on the NIH pubmed site. Too many links to post here.

Anyone who thinks saturated fats are not harmful should get a clue. But it's your body---eat all the butter, cream and fatty meats you want, and see what happens.

[GliderGuider]

20. Problem is, I've already done that experiment.

Two years ago I switched from a high-starch vegetarian diet to an all-meat keto diet. In the first year I lost 50 lb (22% of body mass), BP dropped from 155/110 to 115/70, lipids normalized, and my longstanding GERD, edema and violent post-prandial mood swings all vanished. This situation has now been stable on the same diet for a second year.

You may believe what you wish, but you can't legislate my body's dietary needs.

[mpcamb]

38. How do you get "cracks down" from 'guidelines', 'encourage', 'advises'?

My argument here is with the headline.
Written either by a disingenuous mean-spirited type or an idiot. (I suspect the former.)

[Edim]

41. Exactly!

Saturated fats are healthy!

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

2. This is hardly a "crack down".

When HHS agents come for my Twinkies, THAT will be a crackdown.

[d_legendary1]

5. This headline made me "crack up" more than it should

Until the government stops funding fake sugar and starts subsidizing growers all while outlawing GMO's, I don't think this even counts as a "crack down".

[meow2u3]

6. It's more like an indirect crackdown

The government won't actually come for our Twinkies or potato chips. They'll just put out ads suggesting people who enjoy sweets or salty foods be made fun of and ostracized. I've seen it with obesity because the war on obesity has become a war on the obese, at least in the eyes of the public.

[LanternWaste]

15. Which ads have suggested we make fun of and ostracize the obese?

"They'll just put out ads suggesting people who enjoy sweets or salty foods be made fun of and ostracized. I've seen it with obesity..."

Which public service announcement have suggested we make fun of and ostracize the obese? Or is that merely an inference?

[wordpix]

17. why should the public pay for people to be gluttons/obese when subsidizing health care?

It's one thing when people take care of their bodies but still get cancer or Parkinson's due to all the environmental pollution they're breathing, drinking and eating in their air/water/food. It's quite another when people live on a diet of soda, high calorie fats/sugary junk and fatty meats, and then get cancer, diabetes, heart disease and other types of health problems they could avoid.

[meow2u3]

21. Some people can't afford to eat healtfully

Do food deserts ring a bell? Get off your high horse and put yourself in the shoes of poor people who can't afford to eat right.

In other words, foods with added sugar and salt are cheaper and more readily available. If someone doesn't have the money and/or time to prepare fresh, healthful food, why are you sitting in judgment?

[branford]

32. The government will need to pry my Twinkies from my cold, dead (chubby) hands... nt

[ProfessorGAC]

35. The Crack Down Goes Like This

"Please stop eating so much sugar."

"No"

"ok"

[DamnYankeeInHouston]

36. You mean, "Cut it out."

[bigworld]

4. "If followed"

is the key phrase. I think Americans HAVE access to good nutritional guidelines -- if they choose to follow it is the stumbling block.

[bigworld]

7. Someone, somewhere will fight this

[Fuddnik]

8. It's kind of tough when just about everything you buy has sugar in it.

I went on a low carb diet a couple of years ago, and started reading the labels on everything. There were only certain brands I could buy. Things like bacon, salad dressing.......

And I completely cut grains out of my diet too. But I found a kick-ass recipe for pizza dough made from pork rinds!

[wordpix]

18. I can find 100% organic, no sugar foods in local grocery stores and online, so can you---

As for low carb, just cut down on your carbs. Don't eat so much of them. Done.

[RobinA]

24. Really...

What are we even allowed to drink these days? Tap water is all I can figure. I think unsweetened iced tea might avoid all the current bugaboos. Who can live that monastically for long? Tap water day after day after day after day. Can't do it. I end up dehydrated.

[hedgehog]

29. Even if you think Organic is a bunch of woo, many organic products are made

without added sugar. Be sure to read the labels, though. Some baked goods and tomato sauces do have added sugars, even if they're not from sugar cane.

[Gregorian]

10. Still pushing the saturated fat line? Good fats are good for you

They have NO insulin response. As for sugars, this is not even news. Eat your sugars in the morning, and alter your Circadian rhythm. I'd say that most of our medical expenses in America are due to that one thing. From heart disease to diabetes.

The books on nutrition are coming out now with successes and testimonials that put our medical doctors to shame. I have personal experience which totally shocked me. I went from 25 years of illness to being alive again. All because I began eating healthy fats, and knocking off carbs until later in the day.

[restorefreedom]

11. big difference between saturated and unsaturated though

and the types within. coconuts, olive, avocado generally good, the layer of fat surrounding a steak, bad. some people still lump them all together and think "good".

as much as people would like it to be so, an atkins type diet is NoT healthy (not suggesting you were advocating that just pointing it out)

but I agree with you that in most cases, simple sugars are way worse than fat.

[Gregorian]

33. Even the fat on meat. See this article with all the links to research.

http://authoritynutrition.com/it-aint-the-fat-people/

This is great. I didn't lose 25 years. The last fifteen were rather horrible. But suddenly, and I mean over night, after trying everything, I find that I'm perky and alive. I thought my life was over. I still lived, but it was all just like being a passenger. There are a lot of americans eating off that pyramid chart who are dying.

There is so much confusion over carbs. I took a lot of time to get it straight. It's so simple it's pathetic. Just eat real vegetables. Anything with a higher glycemic load is for things like endurance, or high intensity. The guys in the bike tours drink Coke! Argh. I finally figured out why it was ok for them but not those sitting on a couch. One goes to muscles, the other goes to fat (with a huge insulin spike).

[restorefreedom]

34. trans fats are definitely horrid

for a different perspective on the plant saturated v animal saturated,

http://cleancuisineandmore.com/is-the-saturated-fat-in-coconut-harmful/

also dr dean ornish has helped people avoid heart surgery with a diet very low in fat. now, those people were already quite ill so they may have had different requirements.

as a vegan, i don't really need to be concerned with the animal fat, but i am including more coconut and avocado, and of course, olive oil. and sugar is waaaaaaaaay worse than any fat imo. coke eeeeeek. but i guess if i were on a long hike i could take a swig or two, maybe.

in any case, glad you are feeling better.

[Gregorian]

37. Thanks. I"m reading the link you sent.

I have really worked hard to learn what I can about this. I think recent research is showing that those previous studies were not really valid in the sense of what kind of meat they were using. I'm really clear that the fat on meat is not bad for us, but number of calories has to be considered since fat is something like five times the calories per gram of carbs. So now I'm inclined to go back and look, after reading that link. What I now know is that quality food is the crucial part. But people also don't realize when it comes to sugar that they need to be careful with juicing. Juiced oranges are like cocacola amounts of sugar per similar volumes. I drank that stuff every morning most of my life! Argh.

Anyways, I like this subject, but it's a bit complex.

[restorefreedom]

40. yeah is a lot of info and it is always changing

i know one thing about myself. i feel like a different person when sugar is completely out of my life, so that is priority one for me this year. i love juice, what a bummer. but it really should be an occasional treat. i tend to do a lot of smoothies which is ok because the whole fruit/veg is retained.

i also have to work on protein. i life weights and as a vegan, its tough to get what i need for muscle repair. i end up relying on protein powders which is ok, even many carnivorous athletes use them.

say, is there a nutrition group on du? i bet there are others interested in this stuff.

[Gregorian]

44. Hey, you might like this: pea protein.

I was told that fermented is the way to go, and honestly I didn't see it. I don't like the idea of whey protein. I never did like the idea of keeping poor cows pregnant all the time, but I digress. I just graduated from whey to pea last night. So we'll see. But it's cheaper, and it's very high in protein. I'll grab a link. This is what I bought. They sell a cacao powder that I'm interested in adding to it. I'm still having a hard time believing it has 5 grams of carbs and 82 grams of protein per serving. That's like at least three times what I get in whey protein.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/151548451681?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&var=450762758455&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

I pretty much work out every day. That's kind of my life. Roll on the lacrosse ball first thing in the morning, and then just tons of planks and stretches. I'm trying to get adhesions gone, get mobility, then start deadlifting with a real bar. I'm already five years in, and still not where my hips need to be. And ankles, and everything. What were we talking about?....

[restorefreedom]

45. thanks a lot. i could go on all week

about my issues with big dairy, but i won't

the 82 grams seems higher than what i am used to. the most i ever got in a serving is about 45 and its usually around 20 or 30. jeez, i would be happy to get 82 grams a DAY ...well, maybe a bit more than that but not much.

i have switched between soy and rice protein for the past few years. i have heard good things about pea and hemp protein. brendan brazier (vegan triathlete) does a variety of plant based proteins. he has a product line but it is very expensive. they sell it at whole foods. i never buy it except once in a while i will get one recovery bar as a treat. the powders are out of my price range.

planks are tough. i worked with a pt who had me doing them. i now am into mma but not sparring, just solo practice, along with higher rep/lower weights. i used to do heavier free weights and lower reps, but it was tough on the body, and research is coming out now showing that really heavy weights are not needed to achieve most people's strength and muscle building goals. that was good news to me.

good luck with the hips and ankles....i have been having some minor knee grumbling, keeping my fingers crossed....

[Gregorian]

48. Hey, I had to reply because I had to clarify something

I was all excited about the high protein in peas. I got mine today, and it's great. I ran the numbers and it's the same amount of protein in whey as pea, if using the same scoop. That's using whey that gets 25 grams per 30 grams of powder. So it's not some fantastic stuff like I was dreaming. But no cows were harmed. And it's cheaper.

Argh, at this very moment I realized it's curl-up time. These are horrible.

[restorefreedom]

49. thanks for the clarification

on a calorie for calorie uniformity, i would prefer a vegan version. even if the pea were slightly less, i would prefer the vegan version. i am currently working through a chocolate rice powder that is pretty good (24g protein per serving)and is vegan. will definitely look at pea when its empty

hope the curls went well

[KentuckyWoman]

12. Adult consumers don't generally care what Uncle Sam says

I realize this is really geared toward children and what is provided in schools but it's useless for adults IMHO.



If the government really wants to make a difference then get the industry to care more about actual nutrition. Start with the growers, move on to the packagers and don't stop until you get the big boys of end users to modify. Change what is available to the consumer.

Taste buds will adjust.

[leftyladyfrommo]

14. Critics were upset hat it didn't call for less meat.

Especially red meat. Red meat has a strong lobby.

[jtuck004]

22. Tell people to slow down while taxing them for over $50 billion in sugar subsidy. No wonder

people think their tax money is being wasted and they have decreasing faith in "government". .

...The program that supports the American sugar industry has many facets. Most infamous is a subsidy program in which the U.S. Department of Agriculture gives loans to sugar farmers and allows them to repay those loans with raw sugar if sugar prices fall below 20.9 cents per pound. This program functions as an effective mass purchase of sugar, which drives up prices for consumers and thus doubly subsidizes the industry. The USDA then sells this sugar at a steeply discounted price to ethanol producers. Last year the USDA spent $53.3 million on the program. Including the loans that could not be repaid, the government spent $171.5 million.

The government also enforces a system of tariffs and quotas on imported sugar, limiting the supply of cheaper sugar that can be imported from abroad. This results in wide spreads between global and domestic sugar prices. In the absence of protection, consumers and sugar-using producers alike could save several cents a pound on sugar bought from other countries.
...

http://www.economics21.org/commentary/sugar-subsidies-are-bitter-deal-american-consumers


Ouf food stamp program invests about $70 billion a year into keeping people fed, and it's not enough. Let's remove the sugar subsidy and use it to lower the cost of fresh vegetables.

Or just keep being hypocrites.

[JudyM]

31. Good post, interesting facts. Would love prez candidates to talk abt this crazy strategy. Nt

[47of74]

28. When I was overseas

The food was healthier for people and I lost weight eating the food there. All this processed crap we have here is making the problem worse.

[Bernin]

30. No

mention of Glyphosate.

Imagine that...

[Enrique]

39. this crackdown will go down in history

it will be called Crystal Nacht

[Pjmask]

42. Good

We need to eat healthy.

[Odin2005]

43. Fat isn't the problem, sugar AND processed carbs are.

[trillion]

47. The fat is fine articles keep looking like a propaganda campaign much like sugar had when Ms. Obama

started going after it. They use the same talking points. I'll wait longer on that one. Anyone can buy articles to the top of google.
http://www.webmd.com/cholesterol-management/features/truth-about-saturated-fats